Boys to get small condoms

An extra small condom for boys as young as 12 is going on sale in Switzerland.

The condom is being produced because a study conducted in 2008 showed that 12 to 14-year-old boys did not protect themselves sufficiently when having sex.

Young boys often cannot find a suitably sized condom, Bettina Maeschli, spokeswoman of the Swiss Aids Federation said on Monday.

The organisation got together with two others working in the area of sexual health to have the condoms produced.

Initially 55,000 packs containing one small and one normal-sized condom are being manufactured. The manufacturer, Lamprecht AG, will produce more if necessary. Maeschli said no figures were available to indicate possible demand.

The Ceylor Hotshot condoms will be sold over the counter, and the Swiss Aids Federation will also sell them via the internet.

In addition, they will be distributed to sex educationalists so that they can inform boys about the importance of using the correct size.

The age of consent in Switzerland is 16, although if the age difference is not more than three years there will be no punishment. Other concessions exist if the older person is not more than 20 or believed the younger person to be at least 16.

swissinfo.ch and agencies